There’s More to Bicycle Safety Than Wearing a Helmet

Re the column (“Vicious Cycle of Accidents, Child Deaths Can Be Ended,” April 7), which talked about accidents to children on bicycles: The column did not mention the most prevalent cause of severe/fatal injuries to cyclists--failure to observe traffic signs and rules of the road. A bicycle is subject to the same laws that apply to other vehicles using public roads.

A few days ago I stopped my car at a four-way stop. I was the only vehicle at the intersection and started to accelerate across it when two cyclists, one a child and both wearing helmets, whizzed crossways in front of me across the intersection without any indication they intended to stop at all. Both looked at me in a challenging/hostile manner as if I was the wrongdoer. Had I not been fast on the brake, their helmets would not have done much to save them in a direct side hit.

All the time, I see bikers riding against the oncoming traffic. Although many think this is the right thing to do, in fact it greatly increases the chance of a fatal injury in a car-bicycle encounter.

I saw a child delivering afternoon newspapers by bike who was so absorbed in getting the papers to her destinations, she was treating a busy street as her own personal domain, going from one side to the other without looking for traffic. I know of at least one paper delivery boy in this area who paid the ultimate price.

Then there are the other evils: cyclists wearing headphones and as oblivious to other users of the roadway as the newspaper girl/boy. And the after-dark cyclist without lights who thinks that reflector patches are all that is needed to make him/her visible.

It seems to me that if a parent gives a child a bike (or, come to that, a weapon such as a gun) without providing the necessary training, then I believe that parent is irresponsible and is endangering the child and others.

If only we parents could impart to our children the wisdom we have (hopefully) gained by less tedious and time-consuming methods! Unfortunately, we can’t protect them all the way, or be their eyes, or stop them from doing things they should know not to do.

Training in the proper use of the tools that they will be using can at least improve the odds.

BRENDA ReVELLE

Orange